Method for utilizing bituminous fuels



Feb. 24, 1931. R, H CARR ET AL 1,793,838

METHOD FOR UTILIZING BITUMINOUS FUELS Filed Oct. 29, 1927 gwuento'o 12.116222? & 61 B. M13011 Patented Feb. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BICEARD H. CARE AND CORNELIUS B. WATSON,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOBS '10 ran PURE on. comm, or crncaao, rumors, A conronarron or OHIO ammo]: r03. urinzme :en'umous Forms Application filed October 29, 1827. Serial ll'o. 229,745.

This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for utilizing bituminous fuel, and more particularly to a process of treating coal to distillation conditions, m-

volvin regulated temperatures and pressures, or effecting the production of low temperature coke, and the separation from the fuel of the volatile content thereof, which is suitable, upon recovery, for use as motor 1 spirit, lubricating oils and other purposes; the

invention constituting an improvement especially upon, and in part a continuationof,

the invention and disclosure set forth in our prior application Serial Number 102,332, now Patent #1,698,907. 7

The particular object of the present invention is to provide a means and method of compressing the coke produced in a low temperature system of distillation to the end that the coke may be extruded from the system In a compact, relatively solid form suitable for commercial use and handling, and whereln the crumbling, friable characteristics of coke produced under ordinar methods of operation are overcome or minimized, to the end of rendering the product marketable and convenient and economical to utilize.

Still, a further object resides in a continuous system of bituminous fuel utillzatlon which consists in progressively advancing a body of such fuel in a generally upward direction through a closed vessel, in which a su-' per-heated fluid such as steam or oil vapor is introduced above the fuel body, so that the temperature of the latter is gradually elevated as it nears the top of the vessel, allowthe heat and pressure in the vessel to force the volatile distillate obtained from the fuel in a downward direction in counter current flow to the path' of movement of the upwardly travelling body of fuel, whereby a heat exchange is elfected permitting the temperature of the distillate to be lowered and at the same time to raisethe temperature of the upwardly moving fuel, the fuel being moved upwardly through the vessel until the volatiles have been substantially extracted therefrom and low temperature coke produced. The system further contemplates the removal of this coke from the top of the vessel or at its zone the stufling box the shaft 7 is provided of greatest temperature and'the collection of the coke in a discharge conduit or outlet, where the coke is subjected to pressure and reduced to a compact, solid, compressed mass which is extruded preferably from the vessel and cut or broken into suitable lengths for commercial utilization.

For a further understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: a

Figure 1 is a plan view showing a preferred form of apparatus used in carrying out the present invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the apparatus,

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein has been illustrated but a single form of apparatus which may be used in practicing the present invention, although other structural embodiments may be used with equivalent results, the numeral 1 designates a cylindrical vessel which includes an internal substantially closed chamber 2, the vessel being formed to comprise, in this instance, a circular outer wall 3, a closed bottom wall 4 and a. closed top wall 5. The walls 4 and 5 are provided with axially aligned bearings 6, in which there is mounted for rotation a centrallg situated vertical shaft 7, the bearing in the ottom wall 4 being provided with a stufiing box 8 to prevent the undue escape of fluid from the bottom of the chamber. Below with a worm gear 9, driven by a worm 10 mounted upon a power driven shaft 11, which leads to any suitable form a prime mover, not shown.

Entering the bottom of the vessel through the outer wall 3 is a fuel feeding device 12. The latter, in the diagrammatic form of the invention illustrated, comprises a hopper 13 into which the fuel, such is introduced and allowed to gravitate to the bottom of the hopper when it registers with the injector nozzle 14, the latter extending into the bottom of the vessel at a slight upwardly directed angle with respect to the horizontal. The coal is forcibly ejected from the nozzle b means of a slidingpistonior ram 15 which elivers the fuel under pressure as bituminous coal,

may be employed as desired. It is preferable to provide the shaft 11 within the chamber 2 and at a point substantially midway of its length with a fixed auger or conveyor blade 16, which is arranged spirally on the shaft as the latter rotates slowly the blade 16, in conjunction with the device 12,

operates on the body of fuel within the vessel to elevate the latter substantially continuously at a measured rate of travel.

Adapted to enter the top of the vessel, above the body-of fuel arranged therein is a steam inlet pipe 17 by means of which superheated steam at a temperature of approximately 850 Fab. or more is led into the vessel and maintained into slightly superatmospheric pressure. It will be observed that the steam, or other heating fluid, such as oil vapor or the like, at its highest zone of'temperature is directly contracted with the fuel immediately prior to the discharge of the latter in the form of coke from the apparatus. The heat, obtained from the superheated fluid,"is permitted to permeate through the body of fuel, gradually cooling or diminishing in temperature as the heat is transmitted toward the bottom of the vessel into engagement with the fresh incoming fuel, as specified in our aforesaid application. Thus the temperature of the coal is raised gradually from the time it enters the chamber 3 until discharged from the upper part of the vessel in the form of coke. There is present an efficient and effective heat interchange by which the temperature of the coal is gradually raised and the temperature of the released volatilesfrom the coal gradually decreased, so that when the volatiles are discharged from the vessel the additional cooling, condensation or liquefaction thereof can be effected very economi-- cally and efliciently. In this instance thebottom of the vessel is provided with a circular perforated manifold 18, from which leads a discharge'pipe 19, the parts 18 and 19 allowing the vapors to escape from the vessel and to be conducted to a suitable condensing apparatus 20 where the vapors are brought to lower temperatures permitting them to assume a liquid form. The manifold 18 may be protected by a baflle wall 21 adjacent the nozzle 14 so as to facilitate the escape of the volatile. I

In the upper part of the vessel the shaft 11, above the 'fuel body, is provided with a fixed hub 22, with which is connected a plu- I rality of curved radiating arms 23, which have their outer ends connected by means of a ring 24. This ring carries a plurality of depending fingers or tines 25, which are adapted to enter or penetrate the coal body so as to prevent the latter from caking or hardening along the upper, surface thereof and thereby interfering with the penetration of the heat obtained from the superheated fluid. The revolving fingers agitate the coal body constantly during the operation of the device, effecting a thorough breaking up of glomerating bodies so as to render the fuel pervious to the penetrating influence of the superheated fluid. A removable cover plate 26 is provided in connection with the top wall 5 to provide access to the interior of the vessel.

One of the important features of the present invention consists in arranging a horizontally disposed-tangential conduit or outlet 27 at one side of the vessel 1, and in which conduit there is located an axial shaft, 28, suitably driven, and having its inner end provided with spiral blades 29, which constitute augers or conveyors for advancing the material in the direction indicated'by the arrow in Figure 1. As the agitator in the top of the vessel rotates the coke, by reason of the form of the arms 23, is forced toward the outer wall 3 of said vessel, Where it is delivered into the conduit 27 and is then engaged by the rotating conveyoror auger within said conduit and forced from the apparatus in solid, compact and extruded form. The conduit is preferably surrounded by a steam heating jacket 30, which serves to maintain the temperature of the coke during the operation of the compressing means.

In view of the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a method of producing low temperature coke through the provision of a continuously operating and eflicient apparatus, wherein the heat developed within the system is utilized to its maximum extent and waste thereof precluded. By the provision of the coke compressing means coke in the form of solid compact bodies is discharged from the system and is capable of being cut or broken into suitable lengths well "adapted for commercial handling. This overcomes a characteristic commonly observed in cokes produced by low temperature methods, and which coke is ordinarily soft and is apt to crumble or break when subjected to forces ordinarily present in handling.

Inn

It will be observed that the receptacle or ular decomposition thereof. It will be understood that there is no active combustion on the part of the fuel body within the receptacle. The revolving agitators 23 and 25 serve to break up the fuel body at or near the zone of highest temperature. This is important to permit of the proper penetration of the heat into the fuel body. Due to the nature of the fuel handled there is a tendency on the part thereof to become sticky, tarry or agglomerate when in the zone of higher temperature, but by the provision of the agitating means this tendency on the part of the fuel is overcome and the fuel is maintained in a loose, disintegrated pliable condition suitable for the penetration of the heat.

Due to the introduction of the steam or other fluid into the top of the vessel a certain amount of pressure is developed, usually less than five pounds, in the top of the vessel. Thus through the provision of this relatively low pressure and also due to therdisintegration of the coal, the heat is permitted to penetrate the coal or fuel body effectively and to force the released volatiles or distillates in a direction counter current to the positive advance of the fuel. Then, through the provision of the extrusion means the coke is removed from the vessel in a condition suitable for handling, storage and transportation.

What is claimed is:

The method of producin coke and distillation products from coal y low temperature distillation and without active combustion, which comprises introducing the coal into a closed receptacle and advancing the same upwardly through said receptacle, introducing a gaseous heating medium chemically inert at the temperature of distillation with respect to the coal into the receptacle for direct contact with the upper portion of the coal body continuously maintained in said receptacle, said heating medium being maintained at said conditions of temperature and pressure to ermit the same to penetrate into the upwar ly moving body of coal to heat the latter to temperatures to produce therefrom coke and fluid products of distillation, continuously agitating the upward portion of the coal body in said receptacle to kee the coal body in an open pervious state to acilitate the penetration thereinto of the gaseous heating medium, continuously removing from the lower portion of said coal body the fluid products of distillation after the latter have been caused to traverse said body in a direction generally opposed to the movement of the coal body through the receptacle, continuously removing from the top of said'coal body the coke formed by the heating of said body, and continuously supplying to said body fresh quantities of coal.

In testimony whereof we atfix our signatures. RICHARD H. CARR.

CORNELIUS B. WATSON. 

